An Israeli army official has said that the military has received orders from the country’s political leadership to halt fighting in southern Lebanon, where its forces have continued clashing with Hezbollah fighters despite a ceasefire, AFP reports.

“The IDF has received updated directives from the political echelon to cease fire,” the official said in a statement.

“The IDF is not conducting proactive strikes, rather the IDF is only operating in a defensive manner within the security zone” in southern Lebanon, the official said.

“These defensive activities include the right to respond if Hezbollah does not abide by the ceasefire and continues to target our troops or our civilians.

The official said the military was operating in the area of Tebnit which contains “terrorist infrastructure”.

“This includes significant underground infrastructure that directly threatens Israeli troops and civilians,” the official said.

“The terrorist infrastructure that the IDF targets is substantial and serves as a major Hezbollah stronghold, particularly for Hezbollah’s Badr Unit. It extends more than one kilometre underground and spans hundreds of kilometres,” the official added.